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Science Areas of Study

Science Education Major, B.S. (Teacher Licensure) for grades 5-12, with Chemistry; Earth and Space Science; Life Science; or Physics Specialty

This program is designed to meet the requirements for Science teacher licensure with a specialty in Chemistry; Earth and Space Science; Life Science; or Physics in the State of Minnesota. Students who complete this major will be eligible for teacher certification in Chemistry; Earth and Space Science; Life Science; or Physics in grades 9-12 and for teaching all sciences in grades 5-8. Students should consult their academic advisor in one or more of these areas prior to developing their program.

Students should complete the science core courses listed below prior to beginning one of the four specialties in Chemistry; Earth and Space Science; Life Science; or Physics. Consult with your academic adviser if you wish to have an alternative method of satisfying this requirement considered or wish to begin a specialty prior to completion of the science core courses.

I. Core Courses for Science Teaching in Grades 5-8:

Note: Where a course option is offered (e.g., CHEM 1111 or CHEM 1211), a specialty may require one course over the other.

Note: PHYS 2101 has a prerequisite not included in the core.

BIOL 1211 Introductory Biology I (4 credits)
BIOL 1212 Introductory Biology II (4 credits)
CHEM 1111 General Chemistry I (4 credits)
or CHEM 1211 Principles of Chemistry I (4 credits)
CHEM 1112 General Chemistry II (4 credits)
or CHEM 1212 Principles of Chemistry II (4 credits)
GEOL 1110 Physical Geology (4 credits)
or GEOL 1120 Historical Geology (4 credits)
PHYS 1101 General Physics I (4 credits)
or PHYS 2101 Physics I (5 credits)
SCI 3100 Integrative Science for Teachers (4 credits)
SCI 3450 Science Methods for Grades 5-8 (4 credits)

Total Science Credits 32-33 Credits

II. Required Professional Education Core

33 Credits

III. Science Specialties

In addition to the core a pre-service science teacher would select a Science specialty. The Science specialties are:

1. Chemistry
2. Earth and Space Science
3. Life Science
4. Physics

 A. Chemistry Specialty

CHEM 2311 Organic Chemistry I (3 credits)
CHEM 2312 Organic Chemistry II (3 credits)
CHEM 2371 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (1 credit)
CHEM 2372 Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (1 credit)
CHEM 2510 Analytical Chemistry (3 credits)
CHEM 2570 Analytical Chemistry Laboratory (1 credit)
CHEM 3110 Laboratory Management and Safety (2 credits)
CHEM 3411 Biochemistry I (3 credits)
or CHEM 3811 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry I (3 credits)
Chemistry elective numbered 3100 or above (3 credits)

Select the following two courses from the Chemistry options in the core:

CHEM 1211 Principles of Chemistry I
CHEM 1212 Principles of Chemistry II

Total Credits for Chemistry Specialty 20 Credits

B. Earth and Space Science Specialty

Note: GEOL 3211 has a prerequisite not included in the major.

ENVR 2000 Introduction to Environmental Science (3 credits)
GEOL 2110 Mineralogy and Petrology (4 credits)
GEOL 3211 Hydrogeology 1 (3 credits)
or ENVR 4050 Geochemistry (3 credits)
GEOL 3500 Topics in Paleontology (3 credits)
GEOL 3600 Stratigraphy and Sedimentation (3 credits)
GEOL 4980 Research (research experience) (3 credits)
or GEOL 4970 Internship (research experience) (3 credits)
SCI 2100 Astronomy (3 credits)

Select the course not taken in the core:

GEOL 1110 Physical Geology (4 credits)
or GEOL 1120 Historical Geology (4 credits)

Total Credits for Earth and Space Science Specialty 26 Credits

C. Life Science Specialty

1. Required Biology Courses

BIOL 2360 Genetics (4 credits)
BIOL 2610 General Ecology (3 credits)
BIOL 2620 Field and Laboratory Methods in Ecology (1 credit)
BIOL 3710 Microbiology (4 credits)
BIOL 3720 Plant Form and Function (4 credits)
or BIOL 3830 Aquatic Plants (4 credits)
BIOL 4620 Organic Evolution (3 credits)

2. Required Biology Elective

Select one of the following:

BIOL 3150 Animal Behavior (3 credits)
BIOL 3310 Entomology (4 credits)
BIOL 3510 Ornithology (4 credits)
BIOL 4520 Mammalogy (4 credits)
BIOL 4534 Ichthyology (4 credits)

3. Required Biology Research Elective

Select one of the following:

BIOL 3980 Research (1 credit)
BIOL 4980 Research (1 credit)
BIOL 4894 Advanced Laboratory Projects in Biology I (2 credits)
BIOL 4895 Advanced Laboratory Projects in Biology II (2 credits)
BIOL 4896 Advanced Field Projects in Biology I (2 credits)
BIOL 4897 Advanced Field Projects in Biology II (2 credits)

Total Credits for Life Science Specialty 23-25 Credits

D. Physics Specialty

Note: Asterisked (*) courses either have prerequisites not included in the major or require consent of instructor.

MATH 2471 Calculus I (5 credits)
*PHYS 2102 Physics II (5 credits)
PHYS 2500 Electronics I (4 credits)
*PHYS 3600 Modern Physics (4 credits)
*PHYS 4580 Optics or other approved elective (4 credits)
PHYS 4980 Research (3 credits)

Select the following from the Physics options in the core:

PHYS 2101 Physics I

Total Credits for Physics Specialty 25 Credits

Total Semester Credits Required for Major 85-92 Credits

 A Total of 128 Semester Credits is Required for a Bachelor’s Degree